Billy Hanna

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“William ‘Billy’ Hanna” murdered 21/6/1978. We will remember. Pride Of Ardoyne FB.” On the 40th anniversary of his death, a memorial plaque and cross were mounted at the top of Ardoyne Road to Billy Hanna, founder member of the Pride Of Ardoyne flute band. The word “murdered” is notable: Hanna was shot by the SAS as they ambushed a PIRA attempt to bomb the Ballysillan post office depot. It is alleged that the SAS snipers opened fire without warning and discharged 170 rounds (An Phoblacht); alternative interpretations of the event put the focus instead on Hanna being caught in the crossfire (BBC-NI) or mistaken for an IRA member (Sutton).

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06614 X06612 X06613 h/t Tony Crowley

Catch Up With Jesus

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“Catch up with Jesus. Lettuce praise & relish him. Cos he loves me from my head to-ma-toes.” Some delicious puns outside Sandy Row Methodist, McAdam Park.

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No Hedge Trees Or Shit

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06634 2019-06-11 PDown Dump Wood+

With less than a month to go until 11th night, bonfire builders are busy collecting materials for their pyres, but although they want people to “dump wood”, they don’t want to become dumps. Thanks to squire93@hotmail.com for this image of the site in the Edgarstown estate (Portadown): “Dump wood – no hedge trees or shit.”

For the mural in the background, see In Answer To The Echo Of Alarm.

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Copyright © 2019 squire93@hotmail.com
X06634

Dump Wood, No Shite

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With less than a month to go until 11th night, bonfire builders are busy collecting materials for their pyres, but although they want people to “dump wood”, they don’t want to become dumps. “No shite” is on Lanark Way (west Belfast). For a more articulate list, see previously Stuff We Don’t Need.

The other three images are from the RYL [Roslyn?/Ravenhill? Young Loyalist] bonfire site in Lismore Street (east Belfast). where the “Irish News [is] not welcome” to write stories and take pictures of sites as the controversies surrounding them resurface each year, such as toxic fumes from tyres (see e.g. Tyre-Free Pyre and Tyred Of Your Culture) and state attempts to exchange funds for conditions on fires (see e.g. Culture Before Cash and Real Loyalists Will Never Be Bought).

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06551 X06552 X06553 X06554 No fly tipping

Spontaneous Combustion

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Brennan’s chippie in North Street suffered a fire (and burglary) at the beginning of April that closed the store (Belfast Live). They hope to be open again in two weeks. In the meantime, citizens are urged to be aware of spontaneous combustion “by order of Fire General Bob” (FBG).

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X06620 Divis St

The Prince Of Whales

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The water is fine. Really good, in fact. Come on in. Work by Francois Got Buffed (web | tw) in Kent Street for HTN.

Previously: 100% Less Hate | Ye Dancin’? | Dangerous Dave | Hi | Dancing In The Streets | Together

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Your Wall, Your Border

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US president Donald Trump followed a three-day state visit to the UK (London and Portsmouth) with a few days in Ireland before briefly stopping in France for D-Day commemorations. In London, protesters gathered in their tens of thousands and the ‘Trump baby’ blimp flew in Parliament Square (gallery of images at CNN) before making its way to Dublin (BBC) for the second leg of the trip. The Trumps were likewise met by protesters when they landed at Shannon Airport (Irish Times) where he met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and remarked “I think it [Brexit] will all work out very well [for the UK]. And also for you, with your wall, your border. We have a border situation in the United States and you have one over here, but I hear it’s going to work out very well.”

The besieged president would have been welcome, however, in loyalist west Belfast – the Israeli Star Of David and graffiti shown above were added below the Imagine mural between the security gates on Northumberland Street: “President Trump welcome in Belfast. No surrender.”

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Hard To Kill

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“Frankie + Andy – Village legends.” UVF hitman Andy “Hard To Kill” Aiken died of a drugs overdose in June 2018, six months after the death of his brother Andy (BelTel) who lived in Roden Street (Funeral Times). The graffiti was previously to Frankie alone (Street View).

Aiken was a suspect in the killing Bobby Moffett on the Shankill in May 2010; Moffett had previously been expelled from the RHC for drug use (BelTel).

The referent of “RIP Lee – one love” is unknown. It is perhaps Lee Rigby (WP).

Roden Street/Donegall Road, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Burning Issues

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A sticker protester in Bloomfield Avenue is tired of high rates: “UVF bonfire riots are to add £500 to your rates. Thank your morons”, “UVF scum push up rates + selfish bonfire builders”, “High private rentals and lack of council homes = EU open border German plan”.

Policing at two east Belfast bonfires last year cost 188 thousand pounds (BBC-NI), but it’s not clear that had any impact on rates. Commercial rates will increase by £138 this year, due in part to the allocation of half a million pounds for “bonfire diversionary schemes” (up from 400,000 pounds in 2018), resulting in a rates increase of 1.98% compared to a planned increase of 1.67% (Irish News | BBC-NI). The scheme has been called a “carve up” for special interests as the allocation of funds was decided by Sinn Féin and the DUP alone. Last year’s allocation was investigated by the NI Audit Office, and it appears that the office will investigate this year’s too in order to see that the recommendations made were adhered to (Alliance).

The other issue seems to be that immigration into Europe (including Belfast) is forcing up rents. Most immigrants to east Belfast live in privately-owned accommodation (NIHE). Germany ended its open-door migration policy in June 2018 (Vox).

Please get in touch if you can shed light on any of the issues.

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I’m One, At Least

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The Who, the parka, the scooter with multiple mirrors … Mod life in Belfast.

Please get in touch if you can explain “113”.

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X06611 Tamar St